Recipe: Mustard and Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb

Mustard and Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb

Adapted from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 c unseasoned bread crumbs

3 T finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley*

1 T finely chopped mint*

3 T minced fresh rosemary*

salt and pepper to taste

3 1/2 T olive oil (more for searing meat)

3 frenched racks of lamb (8 ribs each), trimmed of all but a thin layer of fat, then brought to room temp

2 T Dijon mustard

Special equipment: an instant read thermometer

Instructions

Stir together bread crumbs, parsley, mint rosemary salt and pepper in a bowl, then drizzle 3 1/2 T olive oil and toss to combine.

Preheat oven to 400 F

Season lamb with salt and pepper.  Heat several tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot (but not smoking).  Brown lamb, one rack at a time, 2 minutes on each side.

Spread fatty sides of each rack with about 2 t of mustard.  Divide bread crumbs into 3 portions and press bread crumb mixture into the mustard coating.**

Place racks in a roasting pan.  Roast lamb until thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into center (do not touch bone) registers 130F for medium rare (approximately 20-25 minutes).  Transfer racks to a cutting board. Let stand 10 minutes, them cut into chops.

Notes:

*These measurements are approximate.  Feel free to use more or less.  

** I typically spread the bread crumb mixture onto a piece of wax paper and then invert the rack directly onto the crumbs -- pressing down well before lifting the racks off the paper.

Recipe: Coconut Macaroons

Coconut Macaroons

Adopted from Bakers Royale and Alice Medrich

Yield: Approximaely 2 dozen cookies, depending on size

Ingredients

4 large egg whites

3 c sweetened shredded coconut

2/3 c sugar

2 t vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat over to 350F

Place all ingredients in a heat proof bowl and stir well to combine.  Place the bowl over a sauce pan which contains 2 inches of barely simmering water.  Cook the mixture, stirring frequently with a silicone spatula, until the mixture is very hot to the touch and the egg white have thickened slightly, about 15 minutes*.  (The egg whites will turn from translucent to opaque.)

Set the batter aside for 30 minutes to let the coconut absorb more of the egg white mixture.  Mixture is ready when a scoop of the dough can hold it's shape without a puddle of syrup forming around it.

Place the batter, by rounded tablespoon, onto a parchment lined cookie sheet -- spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies for approximately 13-15 minutes, or until the edges and coconut tips are lightly browned.  Cool cookies completely before removing them from the parchment paper.

The cookies are best if eaten the same day, but can also be stored in a airtight tin for several days.

*If you are using a stainless steel bowl; the mixuture will take longer to cook if using a glass bowl. 

Recipe: Cherry Almond Babka

Cherry Almond Babka

Adapted from Country Living Magazine

Yield: 12+ servings

Ingredients

1 envelope dry active yeast

1/2 cup warm milk (105-110 F)

1 t sugar

1/3 c sugar, plus more for sprinkling

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 t salt

4 eggs, room temperature

1/2 c sour cream

4 c all purpose flour

1 c dried cherries

1 1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 t vanilla extract

Preparation

Dissolve 1 t sugar in the warm milk. Sprinkle in the yeast and stir to combine. Let the mixture sit for approximately 10 minutes until it becomes foamy.

In a separate bowl, beat 1 stick of butter with remaining 1/3 c sugar and 1/2 t salt until light and creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, followed by the yeast mixture and the sour cream.  Add the flour, one cup at a time, until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Turn the dough until a lightly floured surface and knead until silky and smooth.

Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise until double in bulk (1 - 1 1/2 hours).

To make the filling, cover dried cherries with hot water until softened (10-15 minutes).  Drain and squeeze dry. Finely grind the almonds in a food processor. Cream remaining stick of butter with brown sugar until smooth, then add an egg, vanilla and ground almonds.

Punch down the dough and roll into a rectangle approximately 12 by 24 inches. (Alternatively, divide the dough in half and roll out 2 smaller rectangles.) Spread on almond filling, leaving a 1 1/2 inch border around the edge. Scatter on the dried cherries.  Roll the dough, jelly roll style, into a tight log.  Transfer to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and form into a crescent.  Cover with a towel and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Beat remaining egg with 1 t milk (or cream).  Lightly brush dough with mixture and sprinkle generously with sugar.  Bake on middle rack of oven until golden brown and baked through, about one hour (check babka after 45 minutes).  If the babka starts to get too dark while baking, cover it loosely with foil.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. 

Recipe: Golden Couscous

Golden Couscous

Adapted from Bon Appetite Magazine

Yield: serves 8

Ingredients

6 c chicken broth

6 T butter

2 medium sized onions, peeled and finely chopped

2 t tumeric

1 t cumin

16 oz couscous

1 c dried fruit, such as chopped apricots, golden raisins or dried cherries

2/3 c slivered almonds or pine nuts, toasted 

Preparation

Bring broth to a boil in a medium size sauce pan. Reduce the heat and cover to stay warm.

Melt butter in a large, heavy gauge sauce pan. Add the onion, and cook until tender.  Add the turmeric and cumin to the onion mixture and cook for an additional minute. Add the couscous, and stir until well coated with the onion mixture.

Pour the hot broth into the couscous mixture.  Stir in the dried fruit. Cover and remove from heat.  Let the couscous stand until all the broth is absorbed, about 12 minutes.  Fluff couscous with fork.

Just before serving, stir in the nuts and season with salt and pepper.

Recipe: Coconut Cream Tart

Coconut Cream Tart

Adapted from Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts

Yield: serves 6-8

Ingredients

1/2 c sugar, plus additional for whipped cream

1/4 c cornstarch

1/4 t salt

2 1/4 c scalded milk

4 egg yolks

1 t vanilla extract

1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

1 T unsalted butter

1 c heavy cream

1 pre-baked, 9 inch tart shell  (I used this recipe.)

Preparation 

In a heavy gauge sauce pan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt.  Carefully stir in the scalded milk and whisk until well blended.  Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove sauce pan from heat.

In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs yolks. Pour the cooked milk mixture into the beatened egg yolks, whisking until well incorporated. Return the custard to the sauce pan and cook over medium heat until the mixture returns to a boil. 

Remove the custard from the heat and stir in vanilla, coconut and butter.  Pour the custard into the prepared tart pan, and let cool.

Before serving, whip the heavy cream (and additional sugar, if using) until soft peaks form.  Serve the cream on the side, or pipe directly onto the tart.